Sign in

Private company

American Independent Business Alliance

Logo: AMIBA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of local independent businesses, helps communities develop strong local economies through nurturing local entrepreneurs, and promotes citizen engagement in local economic development. AMIBA helps communities to: launch and successfully operate "buy local" campaigns; facilitate group purchasing and marketing among local businesses, and; other programs to support community enterprise.2 It was founded in 2001.1 It is headquartered in Domestic.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

2001Founded1

See how the biggest companies compare on our leaderboards

The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of local independent businesses, helps communities develop strong local economies through nurturing local entrepreneurs, and promotes citizen engagement in local economic development. AMIBA helps communities to: launch and successfully operate "buy local" campaigns; facilitate group purchasing and marketing among local businesses, and; other programs to support community enterprise.2

The story

The AMIBA is a 501c(3) educational organization, incorporated in 2001 by Jeff Milchen and Jennifer Rockne, who previously led the Boulder Independent Business Alliance (in Colorado), the first such alliance in the U.S. Derek Peebles became the executive director in July 2019.

AMIBA often supports positions that contrast with other national business organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, that advance policies favoring large or global corporations. For example, AMIBA argues for keeping corporations out of electioneering activities.

From Wikipedia’s article on American Independent Business Alliance, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

Local independent businesses

AMIBA defines a local independent business as:

Private, employee, community, or cooperative ownership

At least 50% owned by area residents

Full decision-making authority for the business lies with its local owner(s)

Read the full text

A limited number and geographic range of business locations (determined by local affiliates based on their circumstances)

Independent Business Alliance

The term Independent Business Alliance refers to local affiliates of the AMIBA. According to AMIBA's website, "An IBA is a coalition of locally-owned independent businesses, citizens and community organizations united to support home town businesses in a community or geographic region...The AMIBA aims to help seed, support and network these alliances."

The first Independent Business Alliance (IBA) originated in Boulder, Colorado in 1998 and developed the model that has been advanced by more than 60 local IBAs affiliated with the AMIBA in the United States and Canada. Their organizing model also has been emulated by dozens of other groups. Independent Business Alliances exist in communities ranging from 1,800 to several million residents. Collectively, these IBAs represent about 24,000 independent businesses.

The name Independent Business Alliance is a trademark of the AMIBA that applies specifically and exclusively to its affiliates.

From Wikipedia’s article on American Independent Business Alliance, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 2001Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4